PORK AND BEANS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16876, 25 October 1920, Page 7

PORK AND BEANS.

A MISLEADING LABEL,

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 19

AVilliam Morton M’Lean, for Armours (Ltd.), pleaded guilty at the Magistrate’s Court to-day to a breach of tho Sale of Food and Drugs Act in selling a package with a misleading label. Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., presided, and Mr. Donnelly appeared for the Crown and Mr. Cuthbert for the defence. Mr. Cuthbert said that it must be admitted that a technical breach of the Act had been committed, but he thought that a nominal penalty only would meet the case. Defendant was the chief salesman in Christchurch for Armour.

The packages referred to were tins of pork and beans, and upon an opened sample tin being handed to Mr. M’Carthy ho remarked: "‘More beans than pork.” Mr. Cuthbert said that that was so, and the Controller of Customs had suggested that tho tins should be labelled "pork-flavoured beans.” The label stated that the tin contained a generous supply of beans, tomato sauce, and a palatable piece of pork. If tho magistrate pushed hia inquiries far cuough into the tin before him he would find a piece of pork near tho bottom. The beans wore boiled in and saturated with tho pork.lac. "Fork and beans” was an old-established trade name, especially in America, and counsel for the Crown, from his experiences in France, would know that pork and beans was often an army-dish. Before tho summons was issued Armours had altered the labels in accordance with the Controller of Customs suggestion. Mr. Donnelly said that the tin of pork and beans had contents weighing 18oz., of wdiich the pork weighed but a third of an ounce. Ho had, when abroad, consumed a fair amount of pork and beans, but his memory of such feasts was such that ho never intended to have any more. However, they wore not Armours’ products. Mr.. Cuthbert suggested that tho magistrate should sample tho tin before him.

Air. M'Carthy: Is that conniption? He said that, as the defect in tho label had been remedied, a fine of £1 only, with costs, would bo ordered.